IM question

[tugrik]

I'm not much of an IM user. I played with ICQ a little bit when it first came out years ago but didn't stick with it. To be honest, my 'instant communication' fix is taken care of by Mu*'s, though that obviously limits my contacts.

What's changed is now I'm finding myself surrounded by a specific IM client: Windows Messenger. It's on my home computer, work computer and smartphone. All three of them are live and 'passport aware' so they log in, even though I don't ever really use it. Right now my only contact listed is dustykat because at one point he used it to say hi.

Since I'm curious what it's like to actually make use of IM on a regular basis I'm hoping some of the people who read my LJ also use Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger. If so, give me a holler sometime? The MSN-ID is "Tugrik", of course. Anybody care to add me to their lists? :)

Comments

[smackjackal.livejournal.com]

I've been a big fan of IM for a while now. A fair number friends used to to use ICQ so I started using that. Then, well, we know what happend from there. Yeah, messenger is everywhere. And I'm being generic when I say messenger. Where I really got in the habbit of always being on an IM service when I'm at a terminal, in this case Windows/MSN messenger, is at work. Of course, my work situation is unique in that I work with the team that manages the Windows/MSN messenger service in the course of my work. Aside from using as a way to set my status for my co-workers it also means that I can chat with them without having to resort the bloody Nextel.

Reaching beyond the realm of work my mother and my sisters both use IM. I chat with my mom quite often about things that are going on through IM, same with my sisters. IM services have actually let me be more active in keeping up with the goings on in my family and with the friends of mine who also do use the service.

Now, I mention Windows/MSN messenger specifically because that's the one I'm around the most, work with the most and have the most number of contacts on. Though I have accounts other places I've pretty much defaulted to the MSN offering for the obvious reasons. The one space where that isn't true for me, though is in my cellular phone where I use SMS very much like an IM service. Im much more likely to tap out a short message to a friend who has an SMS capable phone than I am to call them.

[koogrr.livejournal.com]

I rarely use the SMS on my phone, and never used AIM, until it came with my phone. Now I'm finding it's really useful. Can't get it to talk to MSN though, I don't think.

[tug-the-dragon.livejournal.com]

Tug chatting with Tug...
Sounds like paradox...might nullify the universe...
Sounds like a plan to me!
Tug the Dragon is my SN

[shatterstripes.livejournal.com]

I mostly use AIM, because that's what people who I want to talk to, but don't find on mucks, are prone to using. In theory the client I use handles WM and Y! and IRC and ICQ and who knows what else, but all I ever use is AIM.

It's kinda strange. I haven't quite found the proper, um, mental model for the kind of communications it engenders. Sometimes rapid and intimate, sometimes lazy and distracted... dunno. It's different from mucking.

[ralesk.livejournal.com]

ralesk@hotmail.com <-- spamholder mail and MSN acc.

Instant messaging.

[cjthomas.livejournal.com]

Email is my IM.

Seriously };>.

Mail will show up in my inbox seconds after being sent, and responded to not long after that, so why use one of the newer IM methods? That's my take on things, at least.

As for SMS, I find it quite handy for asynchronously notifying people of dinner outings and the like on short notice. YMMV.

-Deuce

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

I never run it, but it is usually a variation on this handle.

[noressa.livejournal.com]

I'll try and catch you when you're up. We use it at work all the time for real time discussions... When not using Netmeeting. And for fun with friends. ^_^

[koogrr.livejournal.com]

Extreme asynchronous is how I've found it to be. Almost email except for the understanding that the exchange hasn't finished till someone says I'm done and quits.

I wonder what the longest uninterrupted messaging conversation is. That'd be an interesting Ripley's.

[wordslinger.livejournal.com]

I use AIM. It's quite useful because my kids are often online, and if I need to tell them something (one's in Hawaii, the other isn't) then I can quickly pass the message along. I also chat in the evenings with another writer.

It's replaced the phone, in many ways. Oftentimes I just want to toss a quick comment but am not in the mood for a protracted chat.

IM

[slipdragon.livejournal.com]

Like you, Tug, my IM has been MU*'s.

Another reason I didn't IM, was because there were some five different IM services, and everyone was on a different services, and, and, and!

Add in the spy-ware locked into many IM clients (alleged or no), and I just didn't have any interest.

But, now, I popped a copy of Trillian onto my machines. Handles communication with all the different IM services in a single client, and has shortcuts to create handles for the various services, so I never have to 'leave' Trillian.

I still don't use it, much, but it is nice to have, when someone NOT on a mu* (like my mom!) wants to IM me.

-=B.

[centauress.livejournal.com]

I find the client controls how I use IMs more than anything.

Mostly I use ICQ, because it's the oldest, and I have the longest contact list with it. It also has offline messaging (like MUCKs) which I don't understand why any other system doesn't have. I also use AIM, but haven't tried others.

For awhile I couldn't use ICQ as the client added SMS, ads, etc, and grew beyond my computer's ability to run it reliably. Now I have a clone that works okay.

But I can't use any IMs with my phone because for some reason, it doesn't have '$%^&# characters in the password mode. Lame.